California Bill May Be Costly for Carpet Industry

Dalton, GA, April 28, 2010--Proposed legislation in California, the nation's first devoted solely to carpet reclamation, would have tremendous impact on the carpet industry, according to CRI Vice President Frank Hurd.

"If passed in its current form, California's proposed AB 2398, or the Carpet Product Stewardship Bill, would be extremely onerous. It would cost the carpet industry millions and millions of dollars."

The legislation, according to CRI, requires a 50% collection rate by 2014, increasing to 70% by 2017. Manufacturers must submit a stewardship plan to the California Department of Resources and Recycling, which must approve the plan and set the fees for all activities. Finally, manufacturers will be responsible for all costs associated with the collection, diversion, and or recycling of post-consumer carpet, including, but not limited to, paying cities and municipalities' costs for carpet collection.

Hurd testified in Sacramento before the California State Assembly's Environmental Committee on the bill.